Keep Your Promises petition hits one million signatures!

The Keep Your Promises campaign, supported by partners including WaterAid, reaches a major milestone

29 Aug 2013

One million people from around the world have now signed the Keep Your Promises petition calling on decision-makers to meet their commitments on delivering safe water and sanitation for all.

Such huge support sends a clear message to world leaders to:

Increase their efforts towards reaching the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target on sanitation – halving the number of people without a toilet

Commit to universal access to water and sanitation in the ‘post-2015 framework’ to follow the MDGs

Work towards achieving safe sanitation and drinking water for all

End Water Poverty International Coordinator, Esmee Russell, said, "This milestone really demonstrates the huge strength of the global movement on water and sanitation, and the fantastic work done by campaigners around the world. The petition will now be taken to the UN to let decision-makers know they must keep their promises on water and sanitation."

Pankaj KC, Campaigns Coordinator for WaterAid, added: "WaterAid is delighted to see the huge support for this campaign. Throughout the countries where WaterAid works with local partners, the response has been very impressive. From Mali to Great Britain, WaterAid staff and partners have been pushing hard and in return citizens have been keen to back this important petition.

The million people that have so far signed the petition are speaking out on behalf of the millions more who don't have safe water or sanitation. Governments have made some ambitious promises, but their lack of progress in realising them is costing lives and holding back development."

Over 100,000 people in Africa and Europe and over 500,000 from Asia have now signed the petition, organised by the End Water Poverty coalition, of which WaterAid is a member.

The petition will be handed over to key decision-makers at the UN General Assembly Millennium Development Goal Review Summit in September, and to delegates representing their respective countries. There’s still time to add your voice and ensure world leaders keep their promises!